A discourse concerning liturgies

Let us proceed; That of Tertullian, Apol. 1. c. 30. sine monitore, quia de pectore oramus, hath ⟨p. 122⟩been pleaded by others, and not without reason. Bishop Hall in Answering it, when he was concerned to be most reserved and cautious, so as to yield nothing, but what the words would extort, grants, The mode of Praying was not then under any superior injunction, and so not prescribed. Bishop Bilson concluded from this passage (before it came into debate by the differing parties) that extemporary Praying was used in Tertullian's time, Christian Subject. Part 4. p. 617. rendering it without any ^xPrompter, as coming from the free motion of our own Hearts, and ascribing it to the extraordinary gift of Prayer then continued. (How reasonably may be considered elsewhere;) and this shows, it is not for want of evidence in the expression, that this sense of it is since rejected by his followers, but from something else. I doubt not, but if it would have been serviceable another way, there would be no question, but this was Septimius's meaning, the Christians did Pray without any such Prompter, as the Heathen, because their hearts were their Prompters: or, as Bishop Bilson, because they Pray as their hearts move them. Prayers suggested to the Heathen by their Monitors, were suggested to the Christians by their own hearts; they had not their Petitions out of a writing, but out of their own Breasts.

Let us proceed; That of Tertullian, Apol. 1. c. 30. sine monitore, quia de pectore oramus, hath ⟨p. 122⟩been pleaded by others, and not without reason. Bishop Hall in Answering it, when he was concern'd to be most reserved and cautious, so as to yield nothing, but what the words would extort, grants, The mode of Praying was not then under any superiour injunction, and so not prescribed. Bishop Bilson concluded from this passage (before it came into debate by the differing parties) that extemporary Praying was used in Tertullian's time, Christian Subject. Part 4. p. 617. rendering it without any ^xPrompter, as coming from the free motion of our own Hearts, and ascribing it to the extraordinary gift of Prayer then continued. (How reasonably may be considered elsewhere;) and this shews, it is not for want of evidence in the expression, that this sense of it is since rejected by his followers, but from something else. I doubt not, but if it would have been serviceable another way, there would be no question, but this was Septimius's meaning, the Christians did Pray without any such Prompter, as the Heathen, because their hearts were their Prompters: or, as Bishop Bilson, because they Pray as their hearts move them. Prayers suggested to the Heathen by their Monitors, were suggested to the Christians by their own hearts; they had not their Petitions out of a writing, but out of their own Breasts.